Spring brings with it the sun and flowers, but also the appearance of slugs and snails in our garden. The humidity and the average temperature characteristic of the season are the ideal components for hordes of these small creatures to invade our plants, destroying all vegetation in their path.
The good thing is that there is always a solution. Do you want to get rid of these invaders forever? I kept reading! In this article we will tell you how to combat slugs and snails with quick and effective tricks to protect your plants.
How to combat slugs and snails
Slugs and snails belong to the same family of gastropod molluscs. Both share, therefore, several similarities with each other; among them: the desire for vegetables and fruits, humidity and dark places. Also, they tend to prefer the most recent shoots, which is why the youngest plants tend to be the most affected.
Being nocturnal animals, most of their activity originates during the night or early morning, when they come out to feed. Therefore, it is important to get ready and implement each trick before the sun goes down to catch them red-handed (or sheets). They also tend to leave a shiny, slimy trail, making it easy to identify their path and whereabouts.
You will need :
- Kitchen wrap (or aluminum foil)
- A scissors
- Salt
Home tricks to combat slugs with salt
The most effective and direct remedy to eliminate slugs (and also snails), is salt. The mechanism is simple: by passing over a surface covered in salt, the slug dehydrates and dies on the spot. How to remove slugs with salt? Applying the following method:
- Establish a perimeter around your plant. If the plant is directly on the ground, cut pieces of plastic wrap or aluminum foil (you can also use a cloth) and place them around the plant, forming a circle (otherwise you can throw the salt directly). The idea is to place the salt up there, avoiding direct contact with the earth. Sodium chloride is a great enemy since it prevents the absorption of water and essential nutrients.
- I spread the salt.Put the salt on the film or cloth, covering the entire surface.
- Leave it overnight.When the slugs come out of their hiding places in search of moisture, they will have no choice but to step over the salt.If you are going to apply this method, do it on nights when there is no wind or rain so that the salt does not mix with the earth.
Fighting slugs with eggshells
Another way to eliminate slugs forever is by using crushed eggshells. To combat slugs with this other homemade trick:
- Crush a couple of egg shells.You can do it by hand or by placing them in a container and exerting pressure with a spoon. Try not to leave very small pieces.
- Set up a barricade around your plants.As with the previous method, build a barricade directly on the ground around the plants you want to protect.
- Leave the shells overnight.There are two options: that when seeing the edge and the relief of the shell, the slugs decide to turn around and walk away, or that they choose to cross the barrier and become stagnant. For greater effectiveness, change the shells every week.
How to combat slugs with sand
The last trick in this section (but certainly not the least) is to use sand. That’s how it is; sand is very common as it hinders and disables the movement of slugs. How to fight slugs with this mineral?
- Form a circle of sand.Form a circle of sand around the area to be protected. The thicker the barrier, the better. The good thing about sand, unlike salt, is that it can be poured directly onto the earth without interfering with its natural processes.
- Let her act.Leave the sand overnight.
- I repeated the process.If the next day you notice that the sand was not enough, add a little more and make higher mounds to block their way.
Home tricks on how to fight snails with beer
How to exterminate snails? Although all the tricks mentioned above work on snails, here are other equally effective methods to expand the range of options.
One of the most used home methods is that of beer; something that almost all of us have in our fridge. This fermented drink is extremely attractive to snails, attracting them instantly. To eliminate these intruders with beer:
- Bury different containers around your plant.It can be a plate, a bowl or simply the base of a cut bottle. Make sure they are at ground level, otherwise the snails will not fall into the trap.
- Fill them with beer.Fill each container halfway with beer.
- Leave the glasses overnight.The idea is that the aroma attracts the snails and that when they approach the container they fall into it.
- Refill every two days.For best results, refill the containers every other day.
How to eliminate snails with coffee
Another practical and easy method is to use coffee beans. The strong aroma of coffee repels both snails and slugs, preventing them from getting anywhere near your plants. To scare these mollusks away for good, do the following:
- Place the grains around your plant.I distributed the coffee beans around your plant, setting up a barricade.
- I spread well.I spread the beans so that they completely obstruct the entrance to the plant.
- Let him act.Leave the grains as long as necessary. You can change them every week; you will see how the snails stop visiting your garden or orchard.
Another alternative to keep snails away with this trick is to make small holes in the ground near your plants and fill them with ground coffee or coffee grounds. You can also spread thin layers of coffee around the areas that require more care. You already know how to eliminate slugs and snails!
More home and professional tricks to combat pests of snails and slugs
The tricks do not end here. If you wanted to know about other more abrasive methods and home remedies to eliminate slugs and snails, in this section we share some extra tips to guarantee the protection of your garden at all times.
- Garlic.Another natural element when it comes to eliminating snails, with the added benefit that it does not harm crops or the environment and in turn scares away other insects from the garden and the house, is garlic.To scare away snails and slugs with this seasoning, place bits of garlic cloves around your plants or make an infusion with water and spray it on the soil and plants using a spray bottle.
- Detergent or milk.If you need to know how to eliminate snails permanently? Creating your own homemade insecticide based on detergent or milk, and water. Just pour any of the two substances into a spray bottle with water, mix well, and spray your plants daily.
- Sawdust or ash.The process on how to combat slugs and snails is similar to that of salt or sand. To eradicate them with sawdust, form a barrier around your plant. Remember: more sand and higher the barrier, the more effective the result will be.
- Fumigation and irrigation.If what you are looking for is a more professional product or service, we suggest you investigate the different fumigation procedures for the control of slugs and snails, provided by experts. There are numerous soluble concentrated liquids that can be useful to keep these animals away.
Tips to prevent the invasion of snails and slugs
- repellent plants.There are plants that slugs and snails do not get along with at all, such as lavender, onion, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, geraniums and nasturtiums.
- Homemade insecticides.As we mentioned before, homemade insecticides are excellent alternatives to deal with these herbivorous predators.
- natural predators.If your garden is frequented by other visitors such as toads, frogs and lizards, take advantage! These animals, among others, are excellent at keeping snails and slugs away from your plants.
- Water in the morning.Snails and slugs are fans of moisture. If you water in the morning, the water will be absorbed during the day, preventing humidity from being generated at night.
- Block access.If you have sprouts in full growth, keep them in elevated areas so they don’t reach them.
- I kept a dry environment.If your plants are surrounded by pavers, tiles, or wood, be sure to dry everything after watering.
- Grab the snail by the horns.With the help of a flashlight I followed their trail and removed them one by one from your plants. Don’t forget to wear gloves!
Once you manage to control the pests, it is important that you clean the areas where they were to eliminate any germs that they may have brought.
The country with the most slugs
There is no specific country that has the most slugs, as these animals are present all over the world. However, humid and warm climatic conditions are usually ideal for slug proliferation. Therefore, countries with hot and humid climates, such as some countries in South America, Asia, and Oceania, may have higher numbers of slugs. Although slugs are not usually dangerous to humans, they can cause damage to gardens and plants, so it is important to take preventative measures to prevent their proliferation, such as keeping gardens clean and dry.